Abstract: Devices and methods for providing a switch for selecting which of a number of fuel valves receives power. The switch preferably provides a delay between the powering down of a first fuel valve and the powering up of a second fuel valve. Also included are systems and methods for providing an electrical, printed circuit board mountable safety switch for switching fuel sources in a multi-fuel burning system.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for coupling an HVAC controller to an HVAC system are provided. In several embodiments, a sub-base is provided allowing an HVAC controller to be coupled to a printed wire board to allow, in some cases, modification of the HVAC controller function. The sub-base may include a plurality of terminals, each terminal having a contact mating feature for receiving a pin of an HVAC controller, a terminal block location for receiving an end of a wire, and a transformation pin-out adapted to couple to a printed wire board, with the contact mating feature, the terminal block location, and the transformation pin-out being electrically coupled together. In one embodiment, an HVAC controller is modified to allow a controller adapted for use with a single fuel system to control dual fuel system.

Abstract: Devices and methods for providing a switch for selecting which of a number of fuel valves receives power. The switch preferably provides a delay between the powering down of a first fuel valve and the powering up of a second fuel valve. Also included are systems and methods for providing an electrical, printed circuit board mountable safety switch for switching fuel sources in a multi-fuel burning system.

Abstract: A commissioning system incorporates a commissioning station for mounting a controller to be commissioned by the action of loading data into a writable memory of the controller. The station has a label reader for reading a label attached to the controller. Preferably the label is readable by the label reader only when the controller is mounted on the commissioning station. Data encoded in a code pattern on the label specifies commissioning parameters to be loaded into the controller memory. The label reader reads the code pattern and generates a signal encoding the code pattern data. The commissioning system receives this signal and transmits a commissioning signal to the controller encoding the commissioning parameters, which are then loaded into the controller memory. In one embodiment the commissioning station has a configuration that cooperates with the controller to create an access barrier to the label reader scanner surface when the controller is mounted on the station.

Abstract: A system for commissioning a controller accepts a different manual input during each of several different phases of the installation and provides the installer with a different detectable cue during each phase. The installer provides the manual input and then operates a switch indicating the input is present. The system stores the manual input present and advances the system to the next phase, and in a preferred embodiment provides a visible cue identifying each phase. The preferred embodiment uses devices controlled by the controller during normal operation and which also have manual position adjustment or set point selection to provide the manual inputs.

Abstract: A commissioning system incorporates a commissioning station for mounting a controller to be commissioned by the action of loading data into a writable memory of the controller. The station has a label reader for reading a label attached to the controller. Preferably the label is readable by the label reader only when the controller is mounted on the commissioning station. Data encoded in a code pattern on the label specifies commissioning parameters to be loaded into the controller memory. The label reader reads the code pattern and generates a signal encoding the code pattern data. The commissioning system receives this signal and transmits a commissioning signal to the controller encoding the commissioning parameters, which are then loaded into the controller memory. In one embodiment the commissioning station has a configuration that cooperates with the controller to create an access barrier to the label reader scanner surface when the controller is mounted on the station.

Abstract: A system for commissioning a controller accepts a different manual input during each of several different phases of the installation and provides the installer with a different detectable cue during each phase. The installer provides the manual input and then operates a switch indicating the input is present. The system stores the manual input present and advances the system to the next phase, and in a preferred embodiment provides a visible cue identifying each phase. The preferred embodiment uses devices controlled by the controller during normal operation and which also have manual position adjustment or set point selection to provide the manual inputs.

Abstract: A local station and a remote station are connected by a single pair of conductors. The local station communicates with the remote station by modulating a power supply within the local station which provides power on the conductor pair for operating the remote station. The remote station modulates its impedance, causing a change in current flow on the conductor pair which the local station can detect. In this way both stations can transmit data to each other at the same time and while the local station is providing operating power to the remote station.

Abstract: A power controller has upstream and downstream switches in series connection to provide redundant switching for power supplied from a power source to a load. A switch operating system closes the switch closer to the load first (downstream) and then the switch closer to the source (upstream). The operating system conditions closing the downstream switch on absence of power voltage on an upstream power terminal of the downstream switch. A preferred embodiment of the operating system performs a number of real time status checks during the connection process to assure that power voltage is properly absent and present at switch terminals during the stages of the connection process. This operating system guards against supplying power to the load if either the upstream or downstream switch's pair of contacts are welded at the time the connection process starts.

Abstract: A method for quick and low cost calibration of a sensor to remove span and offset errors. Span and offset errors are removed using a circuit which produces a corrected output signal as a function of calculated gain and offset values. The gain and offset values are calculated by first measuring an uncorrected sensor output at no input and at full scale output. These values are then used in an equation to calculate offset and gain values. The circuit includes an amplifier, a switch, a gain circuit, an offset circuit and a memory. The memory, which may be serial written memory including static RAM and a shift register, stores gain and offset coefficients for use by the gain and offset circuits and the amplifier. The gain and offset circuits may include digital to analog converters for converting the stored gain and offset digital values into analog equivalents.

Abstract: A flow sensor package having dual porous integral restrictors and a substantial bend between an inlet and a passage for housing the flow sensor and connecting the inlet to an outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing calibrated and linearized flow sensors for VAV systems with the sensor corrected for device/electronic/drift/and field air turbulence characteristics using factory calibrated flow or pressure sensors with output modified by a transfer function incorporated into a lookup table for each sensor. This allows low power processors to handle the adjustment onsite. Further adjustment is made onsite with reference to actual flow and turbulence effects.

Abstract: A conventional thermostat has separate high and low temperature switches for controlling a reversible motor driving a modulating damper or valve whose position controls the temperature of an enclosure by controlling the injection and removal of heat from the enclosure. In the improvement, relay contacts control the current flow to the thermostat's heat and cool anticipator resistors, and only relay control current flows through the motor windings. This avoids degraded motor performance resulting from anticipator resistor current flow through the motor windings and makes the anticipator resistor current level independent of the motor impedance. The relay chosen is one whose activating element draws very little current to close the relay contacts. The preferred embodiment uses a solid state relay which includes a light emitting diode whose light emissions control the impedance of a semiconductor circuit forming the "contacts" of the relay.